Implement for cutting paper or the like.



Patented May 6, I902. H. J. SMITH.

IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTlNG PAPER OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1901.)

(No Model.)

XVITNESSES:

Nrrnn rates FFICE.

HARRY J. SMITH, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTING PAPER OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 699,584, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed April 10,1901- Serial No. 55,154. (No model.)

zen of the United States, residing at New.

York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Implements for Out-- ting Paper or the'Like, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of cutting devices which are used by paper-hangers for cutting or trimming the edges of wall-pa per. For this purpose rotary cutters have been employed, as have also plain knives or blades. If one portion or point of the edge of a rotary cutter becomes dull, the tool is practically useless, as it will in running over a piece of paper leave as many uncut points as the number of revolutions of the cutting wheel in traversing the paper. Moreover, the cutting action of these wheels is almost wholly that of downward pressure, and the action of the inclined edge of an ordinary knife is not present. For this reason many paper-hangers discard rotary cutting-wheels and use the ordinary knife; but this has to be sharpened continually. This necessity for continually or at inconvenient moments stopping to sharpen a cutting wheel or knife is a serious disadvantage in paper-hanging;

It is the object of my invention to provide a cutter which will operate upon substantially the same principle as an ordinary knife, offering the same resistance and the same inclined edge, and which yet may be caused constantly to present a sharp cutting edge for a considerable length of time and which will require sharpening only at infrequent intervals and at such leisure times as may be convenient.

Withthese ends in View my invention consists, broadly, of a substantially circular cutter-blade or one whose edge is a continuous curve, mounted in a normally rigid and nonrotatable position upon a handle, whereby it may be drawn across the paper in a swift movement toward the operator and which may be turned or rotatably adjusted to present another portion of its circumference to the paper.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts here inafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichlike reference characters denote like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, the implement being represented in the act of cutting a sheet of paper. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

In constructing a device embodying my invention I secure upon a suitable handle A a slightly-curved thin metallic arm B, mounted centrally in the said handle and having its lower or free end apertured and enlarged to form a bearing B for a spindle C, which is formed with a head 0, abutting against one side of a thin circular disk D of steel, one face of which is perfectly plane or smooth and the opposite face is formed at its periphery with a beveled edge D. I rigidly mount upon the disk D and upon the spindle O a ratchet= wheel E. Between said disk or cutter-blade and the bearing B of the arm B the teeth of this ratchet-wheel E are directed backwardly or toward the handle A and are engaged by a spring-pawl formed of a single piece of wire F, the rear end of which passes through the arm B at the point 13 and is downwardly projected in the form of an extension F, which engages the said arm 13.

The outer end of the spindle O is reduced in diameter and screw-threaded to receive thereon a nut G, provided with a milled head G, which when screwed up tightly clamps the disk or cutter-blade D and the ratchet wheel F to the arm B of the handle A. Since the ratchet-wheel, the spindle, and the disk or cutter-blade are all rigidly secured, this clamping action of the milled nut G holds all the parts firmly together; but as the disk and the ratchet-wheel are thereby only frictionally secured to the arm G they may be turned in one direction, the spring-pawl F preventing rotation in the opposite direction. In or der to effect this turning, the milled nut does not require to be loosened unless it shall have been screwed up so tightly as to bind unduly.

The operation of my newly-invented cutter implement will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and

the advantages resultant from the use thereof will be manifest to all who are skilled in the art to which it appertains. Placing upon any suitable support H a sheet of paper I and laying upon the latter the block or guide J, as customarily, the operator holds this block J with the left hand, and holding the handle A in his right, with the plane or smooth face thereof against the edge of the said block J, he draws the implement swiftly toward him, whereupon the curved periphery and beveled edge of the cutter-blade or disk cause it to cut the paper neatly and effectively in the manner common with an ordinary knife, but with a greater degree of perfection; The action is not governed by the amount of pressure applied vertically to the cutting edge, as is the case with rotary wheels. Then the edge or portion of the disk or cutter-blade D which is undermost, and therefore comes in contact with the paper, becomes dull, the operator may instantly turn the disk slightly in one direction to bring another portion of the periphery lowermost or at right angles to the handle A. It is but necessary to press the knife down on some horizontal surface, such as the block H, and move it a short distance away from him, whereupon the pawl F, engaging the ratchet E, will permit the disk so to turn, while under all circumstances it prevents any rotation of the blade when the implement is being drawn toward the operator. The extent to which the blade is turned may readily be seen from the number of teeth which pass beneath the pawl F.

I do not desire to confine myself to the exact formation of parts and details of construction hereinabove set forth, as I conceive my invention to be essentially novel in its plan and broad in its scope.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An implement for cutting paper and the like comprising a handle, a circular cutterblade mounted in one end of the said handle, a ratchet-Wheel connected to the said cutterblade, a pawl mounted ',in connection with the handle and engaging said ratchet-wheel whereby to hold the cutter-blade rigidly or immovably to the handle when drawn in one direction and to permit it to turn in the op posite direction.

2. An implement for cutting paper and the like comprising a handle, an arm projecting therefrom, a circular cutter-blade provided with a spindle which passes through the end of the said arm, a ratchet-wheel mounted upon the said spindle between the blade and the arm and rigidly connected to each disk, a spring-pawl comprising a single piece of wire passing through the arm of the handle and bearing upon the said ratchet-Wheel, and a milled nut mounted upon the spindle upon the opposite side of the arm of the handle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of April, 1901.

HARRY J. SMITH.

Witnesses:

S. A. STEWART, F. F. TELLER. 

